"If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever" (John 14:15,16, KJV).
Some time ago, a young businessman came to see me. He was very eager to be a man of God. He wanted to know the fullness of the Holy Spirit in his life, but he said that every time he got on his knees to pray, all he could see was the merchandise he had stolen from his employer.
"God doesn't hear my prayers," he lamented. "I feel miserable and don't know what to do."
I suggested he confess his sin to his employer and make restitution.
"I don't have the money to pay for the merchandise I have stolen," he said. "What should I do? I'm afraid to tell my employer what I have done. I'm sure he will fire me, and he could send me to jail."
"The Holy Spirit is convicting you," I told him. "You can never experience the fullness of God's Spirit and you'll never be a man of God or have your prayers answered until you deal with this sin. You must trust the Lord to help you make restitution."
So the next day he went to his employer, confessed he had stolen the merchandise and offered to make restitution. The employer received him warmly and understanding. He suggested that my friend pay a certain amount each month out of his salary until the debt was paid, which he was more than happy to do. He came immediately to tell me what had happened.
"Now God is hearing my prayers," he said. "Now I know I am filled with the Holy Spirit. My heart is filled with joy and praise to God."
TODAY'S ACTION POINT: I will remain sensitive and alert for any unconfessed sin that might grieve or quench the indwelling Holy Spirit and hinder His working in and through me, robbing me of the supernatural life which God has commanded and enabled me to live, if only I will trust and obey Him.
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